Intelligent energy-saving air conditioner

ABSTRACT

An intelligent energy-saving air conditioner includes a control device ( 1 ), a heat-exchange circulation system ( 2 ), a refrigerating system ( 3 ), and an inner air blower ( 41 ) and outer air blower ( 42 ) both are shared by the heat-exchange circulation system ( 2 ) and the refrigerating system ( 3 ). The control device ( 1 ) includes a temperature collecting and comparing unit and a control unit. The heat-exchange circulation system ( 2 ) includes a first heat exchanger ( 21 ) and a second heat exchanger ( 22 ) separately arranged from each other, and heat-exchange circulation pipes ( 24 ) connecting the first and second heat exchangers ( 21 ), ( 22 ). The refrigerating system ( 3 ) includes an evaporator ( 31 ), a condenser ( 32 ), a compressor ( 33 ) and refrigerating circulation pipes ( 34 ) connecting the evaporator ( 31 ), the condenser ( 32 ) and the compressor ( 33 ). The first heat exchanger ( 21 ) and the evaporator ( 31 ) are arranged close to each other and share the inner air blower ( 41 ), and the second heat exchanger ( 22 ) and the condenser ( 32 ) are arranged close to each other and share the outer air blower ( 42 ).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, more particularlyto an intelligent energy-saving air conditioner.

2. Description of Related Art

Recently, because of rapid industry development in telecom, energy,traffic, power etc, requirements for data transmission speed and coverdensity become higher and higher. The data process equipments arrangedin large-scale machine rooms are moved to outdoor equipment cabinets orbasic stations progressively to be located in the positions near to endusers or terminals. Usually, the outdoor equipment cabinets or basicstations use cases with heat-insulation structure to reduce heattransfer from outside, thus reducing the load of air conditionersequipped therein for refrigeration. This because that, on one hand, theprocess speed of the modern data process equipments are improvedgenerally which costs more power and released in the form of heatenergy; on the other hand, the outdoor equipment cabinets or basicstations are in bare conditions and heated by sun light directly whichgenerates a lot of heat. However, when the environment temperature islower than the inner temperature of the equipment cabinets or the basicstations, the heat in the equipment cabinets or the basic stationscannot be transferred to the environment because of the heat-insulationcases. So, even in low temperature situation, the air conditioners stillneed to keep running for refrigeration, thus a lot of electric power isconsumed and the use life of the air conditioners is shortened. At thesame time, the proposal of single air conditioner for refrigeration willcause temperature in the equipment cabinets or the basic stations to beincreased rapidly once the air conditioner is broken down, and thencauses the equipments to be broken down.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide anintelligent energy-saving air conditioner, which is compact in structureand of simple working principle to solve the problems of high powerconsumption, and lack of redundant system etc.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a control devicecomprises a temperature collecting and comparing unit and a controlunit, a heat-exchange circulation system, a refrigerating system, aninner air blower and an outer air blower. The heat-exchange circulationsystem comprises a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchangerseparately arranged from each other, and heat-exchange circulation pipesconnecting the first heat exchangers and the second heat exchangers. Therefrigerating system comprises an evaporator, a condenser, a compressorand refrigerating circulation pipes connecting the evaporator, thecondenser and the compressor. The inner air blower and an outer airblower shared by the heat-exchange circulation system and therefrigerating system. The first heat exchanger of the heat-exchangecirculation system and the evaporator of the refrigerating system arearranged close to each other and share the inner air blower, and thesecond heat exchanger of the heat-exchange circulation system and thecondenser of the refrigerating system are arranged close to each otherand share the outer air blower.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicaladvantages of the present invention in order that the detaileddescription of the invention that follows may be better understood.Additional features and advantages of the invention will be describedhereinafter, which form the subject of the claims of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and theadvantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptionstaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an assembled, perspective view of an intelligent energy-savingair conditioner in accordance with the first embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from a different aspect;

FIG. 3 is a partially assembled view of the first embodiment toillustrate inner structures thereof;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but viewed from a different aspect;

FIG. 5 is an exploded, perspective view of the intelligent energy-savingair conditioner of the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a system theory schematic view of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating how the airflow flows of the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an assembled, perspective view of the intelligentenergy-saving air conditioner in accordance with the second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partially assembled view of the second embodiment toillustrate inner structures;

FIG. 10 is an assembled, perspective view of the intelligentenergy-saving air conditioner in accordance with the third embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 11 is an assembled, perspective view of the intelligentenergy-saving air conditioner in accordance with the fourth embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth toprovide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, itwill be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present inventionmay be practiced without such specific details. In other instances,well-known circuits have been shown in block diagram form in order notto obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. For the mostpart, details concerning timing considerations and the like have beenomitted inasmuch as such details are not necessary to obtain a completeunderstanding of the present invention and are within the skills ofpersons of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Reference will be made to the drawing figures to describe the presentinvention in detail, wherein depicted elements are not necessarily shownto scale and wherein like or similar elements are designated by same orsimilar reference numeral through the several views and same or similarterminology.

Please refer to FIGS. 1-7, an intelligent energy-saving air conditionerin accordance with the first embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a control device 1, a heat-exchange circulation system 2 and arefrigerating system 3 both are controlled by the control device 1. Thecontrol device 1 comprises a temperature collecting and comparing unit,an alarm unit, and a control unit. The intelligent energy-saving airconditioner also comprises a first (inner) air blower 41 and a second(outer) air blower 42 shared by the heat-exchange circulation system 2and the refrigerating system 3.

The heat-exchange circulation system 2 is a gas-liquid heat-exchangesystem and comprises a first (inner) heat exchanger 21, a second (outer)heat exchanger 22 and heat-exchange circulation pipes 24 connecting thefirst heat exchanger 21 and the second heat exchanger 22. Theheat-exchange circulation system 2 also comprises a fluid actuatingdevice 23 and a liquid storage constant-pressure device 25 bothconnecting with the heat-exchange circulation pipes 24. Therefrigerating system 3 comprises an evaporator 31, a condenser 32, acompressor 33, a liquid storage device 35, a dry device 36, and athrottle device 37, and refrigerating circulation pipes 34 connectingthe elements mentioned above. The first heat exchanger 21 and theevaporator 31 share the inner air blower 41, while, the second heatexchanger 22 and the condenser 32 share the outer air blower 42.

The heat-exchange circulation system 2 is an air-liquid heat-exchangesystem. Please refer to FIGS. 6-7, the flow direction of the refrigerantmedium in the heat-exchange circulation system 2 is in sequence as: fromthe fluid actuating device 23 to the second heat exchanger 22, then tothe first heat exchanger 21, to the liquid storage constant-pressuredevice 25, then back to the fluid actuating device 23. The airflow flowsin the way of: the outer air blower 42 driving cold air from the outerenvironment to flow through the second heat exchanger 22 for heatexchange then back to the outer environment; while the inner air blower41 driving the air in the equipment cabinet or the basic station intothe intelligent energy-saving air conditioner then to flow through thefirst heat exchanger 21 for heat exchange then back to the equipmentcabinet or the basic station.

The principle of the heat-exchange circulation system 2 is as follows:the second heat exchanger 22 in the outer air circulation flow-path andthe first heat exchanger 21 in the inner air circulation flow-path arefull of flowing refrigerant medium of good heat conductivity. Sincethere is a temperature difference between the inner circulation air andthe outer circulation air, driven by the fluid actuating device 23, therefrigerant medium flows in the second heat exchanger 22, and the heatthereof is transferred to the outer cold air then is cooled. The cooledrefrigerant medium flows into the first heat exchanger 21 and is heatedby the inner circulation air since the temperature difference betweenthe inner circulation air and the refrigerant medium. Then the heatedrefrigerant medium is driven to flow into the second heat exchanger 22by the fluid actuating device 23 for being cooled. The recycle isformed. The heat in the inner circulation air is transferred to theouter circulation air by the flowing refrigerant medium to realize thetemperature transfer in the situation of complete isolation of the innerand outer air by the equipment cabinet or the basic station.

Please refer to FIGS. 6-7, the flow direction of the refrigerant mediumin the refrigerating system 3 is in sequence as: the compressor 33, thecondenser 32, the liquid storage device 35, the dry device 36, thethrottle device 37, and the evaporator 31, then back to the compressor33. The outer air blower 42 drives the air to flow through the condenser32, and the inner air blower 41 drives the air to flow through theevaporator 31.

The principle of the refrigerating system 3 is as follows: thecompressor 33 absorbs the gas-state refrigerant medium from theevaporator 31, and compresses it into high-temperature, high-pressurestate then discharges the refrigerant medium into the condenser 32. Therefrigerant medium releases heat in the condenser 32 and is cooled intohigh-pressure liquid state, then is throttled by the throttle device 37to become low-temperature, low-pressure state, then enters into theevaporator 31. Then, the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerantmedium absorbs heat in the evaporator 31 to become gas state again,then, is absorbed by the compressor 33 again. Thus, the recycle isformed.

Please refer to FIGS. 1-5, the intelligent energy-saving air conditionerin accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention is anintegrated air conditioner. The fluid actuating device 23 and thecompressor 33 are arranged in the bottom of a shell (not labeled) of theair conditioner. The outer air blower 42 is located at the outer side ofthe shell of the air conditioner facing to the outer environment, whilethe second heat exchanger 22 and the condenser 32 are located above theouter air blower 42. The inner air blower 41 is located at an oppositeinner side of the shell of the air conditioner facing to the equipmentcabinet or the basic station, while the first heat exchanger 21 and theevaporator 31 are located below the inner air blower 41. In addition,the first heat exchanger 21 and the evaporator 31 are arranged to beparallel to each other and obliquely arranged in the shell of the airconditioner. The second heat exchanger 22 and the condenser 32 arearranged to be parallel to each other and obliquely arrange in the shellof the air conditioner.

For the integrated air conditioner of the present invention, it also canbe full-embedded mounting type as shown in FIG. 10 (the third embodimentof the present invention) or half-embedded mounting type as shown inFIG. 11 (the fourth embodiment of the present invention).

Please refer to FIGS. 8-9, the intelligent energy-saving air conditionerin accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention isillustrated which is of split-style and comprises an outdoor unit (notlabeled) and an indoor unit (not labeled). The outer air blower 42, thesecond heat exchanger 22, the condenser 32 and the compressor 33 arelocated in the outdoor unit of the intelligent energy-saving airconditioner. The second heat exchanger 22 and the condenser 32 arelocated at the air-out side of the outer air blower 42. The inner airblower 41, the first heat exchanger 21, the evaporator 31 and the fluidactuating device 23 are located in the indoor unit of the intelligentenergy-saving air conditioner. The first heat exchanger 21 and theevaporator 31 are located below the inner air blower 41. Theheat-exchange circulation pipes 24 and the refrigerating circulationpipes 34 connect the indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the intelligentenergy-saving air conditioner.

The two systems 2, 3 are controlled by the control device 1. When theinner temperature in the equipment cabinet or the basic station ishigher than the outer temperature in the outer environment and reachesthe set start temperature of the heat-exchange circulation system 2, theheat-exchange circulation system 2 is started, and the fluid actuatingdevice 23, and the inner and outer air blowers 41, 42 starts running. Atpresent, the refrigerating system 3 is in stop state. After theheat-exchange circulating system 2 is started, and the inner temperaturein the equipment cabinet or the basic station is higher than the setstart temperature of the refrigerating system 3, the refrigeratingsystem 3 is started. At present, if it is still satisfied the term thatthe outer temperature in outside environment is lower than the innertemperature in the equipment cabinet or the basic station, theheat-exchange circulation system 2 still keeps running, and the twosystems 2, 3 are running at the same time. When the outer temperature inthe outer environment is higher than the inner temperature in theequipment cabinet or the basic station, and the inner temperature ishigher than the set start temperature of the refrigerating system 3, therefrigerating system 3 keeps running, and the heat-exchange circulationsystem 2 is in stop state. In case of one of the heat-exchangecirculation system 2 or the refrigerating system 3 is broken down, thealarm unit could send an alarm to the control unit or to the user, thenthe other system could be started under the control of the controldevice 1. Also, the cooperation and the switch between the heat-exchangecirculation system 2 and the refrigerating system 3 are finishedautomatically by the control device 1 according to set modes.

The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner is compact in structure,of simple working principle, and can solve problems of high powerconsumption, lack of redundant equipment etc.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerouscharacteristics and advantages of the present invention have been setforth in the foregoing description, together with details of thestructure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrativeonly, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape,size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention tothe full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms inwhich the appended claims are expressed. For example, the tongue portionis extended in its length or is arranged on a reverse side thereofopposite to the supporting side with other contacts but still holdingthe contacts with an arrangement indicated by the broad general meaningof the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

1-5. (canceled)
 6. An intelligent energy-saving air conditioner,comprising: a control device comprising a temperature collecting andcomparing unit and a control unit; a heat-exchange circulation systemcomprising a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger separatelyarranged from each other, and heat-exchange circulation pipes connectingthe first heat exchangers and the second heat exchangers; arefrigerating system comprising an evaporator, a condenser, a compressorand refrigerating circulation pipes connecting the evaporator, thecondenser and the compressor; an inner air blower and an outer airblower shared by the heat-exchange circulation system and therefrigerating system; wherein the first heat exchanger of theheat-exchange circulation system and the evaporator of the refrigeratingsystem are arranged close to each other and share the inner air blower,and the second heat exchanger of the heat-exchange circulation systemand the condenser of the refrigerating system are arranged close to eachother and share the outer air blower.
 7. The intelligent energy-savingair conditioner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first heat exchangerand the evaporator are arranged to be parallel to each other, and thesecond heat exchanger and the evaporator are arranged to be parallel toeach other.
 8. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner as claimedin claim 7, wherein the first heat exchanger and the evaporator areobliquely arranged and are parallel to each other, and the secondheat-exchanger and the condenser are obliquely arranged and are parallelto each other.
 9. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner asclaimed in claim 6, wherein the heat-exchange circulation system is agas-liquid heat-exchange system.
 10. The intelligent energy-saving airconditioner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the intelligent energy-savingair conditioner is an integrated air conditioner and comprises a shellcontaining the control device, the heat-exchange circulation system andthe refrigerating system, and wherein the second heat exchanger and thecondenser are located at the outer side of the shell of the airconditioner facing to the outer environment, and the first heatexchanger and the evaporator are located at the opposite inner side ofthe shell of the air conditioner.
 11. The intelligent energy-saving airconditioner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first heat exchanger andthe evaporator are located below the inner air blower, and wherein thesecond heat exchanger and the condenser are located above the outer airblower.
 12. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner as claimed inclaim 10, wherein the heat-exchange circulation system further comprisesa fluid actuating device which connects the first and second heatexchangers, via the heat-exchange circulation pipes, and wherein thecompressor and the fluid actuating device are located in the bottom ofthe shell of the air conditioner.
 13. The intelligent energy-saving airconditioner as claimed in claim 10, wherein the integrated airconditioner is mounted in one of the full-embedded type andhalf-embedded type.
 14. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner asclaimed in claim 6, wherein the intelligent energy-saving airconditioner is of split-type and comprises an indoor unit and an outdoorunit, and wherein the first heat exchanger, the evaporator and the innerair blower are located in the indoor unit, and the second heatexchanger, the condenser and the outer air blower are located in theoutdoor unit, the heat-exchange circulation pipes and the refrigeratingcirculation pipes connect the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.
 15. Theintelligent energy-saving air conditioner as claimed in claim 14,wherein the heat-exchange circulation system further comprises a fluidactuating device which connects the first and second heat exchangers,via the heat-exchange circulation pipes, and wherein the fluid actuatingdevice is located in the indoor unit, and the compressor is located inthe outdoor unit.
 16. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner asclaimed in claim 14, wherein the first heat exchanger and the evaporatorare arranged to be parallel to each other, and wherein the second heatexchanger and the condenser are arranged to be parallel to each other.17. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner as claimed in claim16, wherein the first heat exchanger and the evaporator are obliquelyarranged and parallel to each other, and wherein the second heatexchanger and the condenser are obliquely arranged and parallel to eachother.
 18. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner as claimed inclaim 16, wherein the first heat exchanger and the evaporator arelocated below the inner air blower, and the second heat exchanger andthe condenser are located at the air-out side of the outer air blower.19. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner as claimed in claim 6,wherein the heat-exchange circulation system further comprises a fluidactuating device and a liquid-storage constant-pressure device, therefrigerant medium in the heat-exchange circulation system is actuatedby the fluid actuating device to in sequence pass through the secondheat exchanger, the first heat exchanger, the liquid-storageconstant-pressure device, then back to the fluid actuating device forrecycle.
 20. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner as claimed inclaim 6, wherein the refrigerating system further comprises a liquidstorage device, a dry device and a throttle device, and wherein therefrigerant medium in the refrigerating system is compressed by thecompressor and in sequence passes through the condenser, the liquidstorage device, the dry device, the throttle device, the evaporator andback to the compressor for recycle.
 21. The intelligent energy-savingair conditioner as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control devicefurther comprises an alarm unit for providing alarm in case of theheat-exchange circulation system and/or the refrigerating system beingbroken down.
 22. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner asclaimed in claim 6, wherein the temperature collecting and comparingunit of the control device collects and compares the inner temperatureand outer temperature of the intelligent energy-saving air conditioner,if the inner temperature is higher than the outer temperature andreaches the set start temperature of the heat-exchange circulationsystem, the heat-exchange circulation system is started, and inner andouter air blower, starts running, while the refrigerating system is instop state.
 23. The intelligent energy-saving air conditioner as claimedin claim 22, wherein if the inner temperature is still higher than theset start temperature of the refrigerating system after the start of theheat-exchange circulation system, the refrigerating system is started,and the two systems, both keep running.
 24. The intelligentenergy-saving air conditioner as claimed in claim 23, wherein if theouter temperature is higher than the inner temperature and the innertemperature is still higher than the set start temperature of therefrigerating system, the refrigerating system keeps running and theheat-exchange circulation system is in stop state.